Here are some tips for creating a nature journal supply kit for your homeschool. It is simple, inexpensive and is easy to do!
Creating a nature journal with your children is an experience you all can enjoy. I always told my children (and myself) that there’s really no right or wrong way to create a page, except if you never gave it a try. Over the years, I had to create a routine for nature journaling or we would procrastinate or forget it altogether.
One way to give us a better chance of creating a nature journal was to take our journal and our supplies along on our nature walk so we could create a page right at the moment. But, this meant I needed to be a little prepared before we left the house.
So, we created a nature journal supply kit.
Creating a Nature Journal Supply Kit for Your Homeschool
What did we take along with us?
When the children were younger they exclusively used spiral bound journals because they were easier to take along with us when we did our sketching. We used No. 2 pencils and colored pencils pretty much for all the entries.
For variety and as they grew older, we started to use colored pencils and thin markers to create our nature entries. Watercolors often gave a wonderful result but they required a bit more effort because you needed to bring along a water source, the brushes, and a paper towel or cloth in addition to the journal.
I found that keeping our supplies all together in one spot and storing them in an easy to find place, made it more likely that we would actually complete a page while we were taking our Outdoor Hour.
I suggest you find a container like a plastic crate, a tote bag, or a backpack to use as a storage container for your journal supplies. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Don’t use anything too large or too heavy or you won’t want to lug it around on your nature walks.
I have a plastic container that I purchased at the Dollar Tree store many years ago that has held up nicely, but I’m sure you have something sitting around your house that you could start off using for now.
Gather your supplies and remember to keep it simple. A few No. 2 pencils with erasers, a small set of colored pencils, a small set of watercolors and a brush, some tape, a pair of scissors, a water container, and a pencil sharpener can form the foundation of your supply kit.
Over time, your family will find favorite supplies to have when journaling on the road. The most important part of journaling is to have experiences to document on the journal pages. Start there. Create the opportunity for a good nature study and then follow up with a little time to work in your nature journal.
The habit of nature journaling is something that will benefit your child long after they have grown up. It teaches important observation and documenting skills that will benefit other areas of study and real life.
More Nature Journal Encouragement For The Entire Family
Here are some more ideas and encouragement on nature journaling for you and your children:
This article is a great reminder to be prepared and organized! I have so many supplies and wonderful ideas, but they don’t happen when I don’t pull them out in outdoor moments. I’m inspired to find a tote bag for my journal and colored pencils to take on walks. Maybe I can still get some drawing done in the late autumn sunshine here in Vermont!
Yes! If I don’t have my supplies pulled together, I never get outside and draw. Take the opportunity before it gets too cold there in VT. We don’t have many warm days left here in Central Oregon either. Thanks for your comment Diana.